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County prosecutor to reassess current marijuana cases after passage of Proposal 1

Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Valliencourt said Thursday his office is reviewing its prosecution of existing marijuana cases "to reassess what we're going to do with them in light of the fact that the residents of Michigan have now made their views about marijuana known at the ballot box."

Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Valliencourt said Thursday his office is reviewing its prosecution of existing marijuana cases "to reassess what we're going to do with them in light of the fact that the residents of Michigan have now made their views about marijuana known at the ballot box."

The new law will go into effect in either late November or early December, after the state certifies the Nov. 6 election results.

"Obviously, at that point, marijuana will be largely decriminalized so there won't be a basis for criminal charges," he said.

Despite the passing of Proposal 1 Tuesday, marijuana is still illegal on the federal level, meaning some marijuana enforcement, arrests and convictions will continue.

United States Attorneys for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan Matthew Schneider and Andrew Birge issued a press release Thursday afternoon addressing the passage of Proposal 1, which legalized recreational marijuana.

"Our offices have never focused on the prosecution of marijuana users or low-level offenders, unless aggravating factors are present," they said in a release. "That will not change. Nevertheless, crimes involving marijuana can pose serious risks and harm to a community."

When considering whether to file charges in marijuana-related crimes, the offices will consider various factors, including interstate trafficking of marijuana; the involvement of other illegal drugs or illegal activity; people with criminal records; the presence of firearms or violence; criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels; the bypassing of local laws and regulations; the potential for environmental contamination, and the risks to minors, they said

Because marijuana is still considered an illegal substance by federal authorities, taking marijuana across the border with Canada or other states will still be illegal.

"Because we have taken oaths to protect and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States, we will not unilaterally immunize anyone from prosecution for violating federal laws simply because of the passage of Proposal One," they said in the release.

Contact Kayla Daugherty at 517-552-2848 or kdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KayDaugherty92.